The Broncos didn't want to defend Darren McFadden on Sunday. They wanted to defend McFadden Lite.

And when the Raiders couldn't get their do-it-all running back going, the guy who is the hub of their offensive wheel, the Broncos had shredded the rest of Oakland's playbook.

"That's what it was about," Broncos safety Mike Adams said. "He's their workhorse, man. If he gets that ball rolling, then it all starts rolling. We had to stop him early, and then you force other guys to step in that role.

"And bottom line is nobody is going to be as good in that role as he is."

When the Broncos didn't allow McFadden to do what he had done so often the past three times he faced the Denver defense — break tackles and destroy game plans — the Raiders were left without their most important offensive weapon.

Raiders Darren McFadden is tackled in the second quarter Sunday. The Broncos held McFadden to 34 yards on 13 carries. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

As a result, McFadden had his lowest rushing output against the Broncos (34 yards) in his career, and the Raiders had their lowest offensive output (237 yards) since Oct. 17 , 2010.

What went right: When McFadden went around the left end for 8 yards on his second carry, Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey was concerned.

"That's not what you want to see," he said. "You let him do that, and he will eat you up all day. We just said that can't happen. It just can't."

That was McFadden's longest run. After seeing McFadden average at least 6 yards a carry in the past three meetings with the Broncos — he rushed for at least 119 yards in all three of those games — eight of his carries Sunday went for 2 yards or fewer, two for negative yardage.

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Already sporting plenty of injuries at wide receiver, the Raiders need their running game to carry them. They found themselves without a Plan B when it was clear Plan A wasn't going to be an option.

The Broncos stopped McFadden with Keith Brooking at middle linebacker, in place of the suspended Joe Mays; Wesley Woodyard at the weak-side spot — he finished tied with safety Rahim Moore for a game-high six tackles; and with rookie Danny Trevathan getting plenty of snaps in the Broncos' nickel defense.

The Broncos also kept the Raiders in third-and-long situations. Oakland faced five plays of third-and-10 or longer, four of those in the second half. Oakland finished 1-of-12 on third down.

"The game right there is hard to swallow," McFadden said. "It was one of those deals where I feel like we were never in sync on offense.'

What went wrong: McFadden caught only one pass, for 4 yards, but the Broncos continue to allow opposing running backs to get out of the backfield for a big play or two. Raiders fullback Marcel Reece had 54 yards on five catches, including a 31-yarder in the first quarter as the Raiders drove for a field goal on their first possession.

The Broncos held Raiders tight end Brandon Myers to one catch for 22 yards, but with the damage running backs and tight ends have done to the Broncos' defense at times this season, it could be a significant issue against the Patriots on Sunday.

The Patriots' backs and tight ends have 39 receptions combined this season.

Up next: Hmm, a team with plenty of expectations heaped on its shoulders, a Hall of Fame quarterback behind center and a spotty start to show for it. The Broncos?

Yes, and the Patriots too.

New England (2-2) hasn't been itself at times, a product of the usual aging process of a team with championships on its résumé to go with an up-and-down performance in the draft in recent years.

Much as has happened with Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, opposing defenses are getting to Tom Brady a little too much for the Patriots' liking. Both have been sacked eight times this season. The Broncos have 10 sacks this season and will need to pressure Brady to have a shot.

Rockies are on pace to lose 93 games this seasonThe Rockies lost three of four in St. Louis and are on pace to lose 93 games as they come home for a three-game series with Seattle before going back on the road again to face Washington.